Explosive engine



Dec. 23, 1930. w. R. McKlNNr-:Y

EXPLOSIVE ENGINE!` Ffled DSG. 5, 1928 INVEN TOR.

' ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 23, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENTLoi-FICE WENDEI'JL R. MCKINNEY, OF KANSASCITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOROF ONE-HALF TO BERE E. POST, OF kKANSAS CITY,AMISSOURI i nxrnosivii ENGINE Y Application led December 5, 1928.H Serial No. 323,960,V

My invention relates to improvements in explosive engines. It is particularly adapted for use in two cycle engines.

One Yof the objects of my invention is to provide a novel two cycle explosive engine which eliminates crankcase compression, and which eects compressionrof the explosive charges wholly within the power cylinder,-

which affords a maximum of compression,

`which effects a maximum discharge of exploded charges with a minimum of admix-` Vture therewithV of unburnt charges, which reduces to a minimum resistance to the reciprocation of the piston, and loss of compression by leakage from the cylinder, which affords a short travel and direct admission of the explosive charges into the cylinder, and av Yminimum of space for compression of said charges, and which provides a simple structure, cheap to make, strong, durable and of great efficiency.

. The novelvfeature's of my invention are hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates the preferred embodiment of my invention,

F ig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of my improved engine.

Fig. 2 is a similar view, partly broken away, showing the parts disposed in a position different from that shown in Fig. 1.

Similar reference charactersiy designate similar parts in the different views.

1 designates the crank case having mounted therein theusual crank shaft 2, to which is connected the usualconnecting rod 3. 4

designates the power cylinder the lower endv of which rests on an annular flange 5 of an exteriorly cylindrical guide 6 having a vertical cylindrical bore and a closed uppereiid, the upper end and guiding walls being extended into and spaced from the cylinder side wall. 1 Y

In the upper end of the cylinder 4 is is mounted the usual spark plug 7. The cylinder 4 at one side near its middle is provided with an exhaust port 8. The other side ofthe cylinder 4 is provided with a by-pass 9, the upper end of which 10 is disposed gust below the horizontal plane ofthe exhaust port 78.*, The lower end 11 of the by-pass'9 is adjacent to and alined with a charge'inlet 12 which'is controlled by a horizontally slidable valve 13 having a horizontal stem 14k whichextends through and is slidablein the wall of a housing 15, which with thecylinder wall-forms the by-pass 9, and which has a. passage 16 through which the explosive charges are .conducted to the by-pass 9.

A coil spring 17 encircling the stem 1'4bears at oneend against the housing and at its other endagainst a washer 18 mounted on the stein 14. The spring 17 normally holds the valve 13 seated.V

A piston hasits head 19reciprocativelyv .The skirt 2O is adapted to enter the annular space between the guide 6 and the side wall of the cylinderafl. The skirt 20 is adapted to close the exhaust port 8 and the ends 10 and 11 ofthe by-pass 9. rlhe lateral port 21 is adapted with each stroke of the piston to consecutively register with the ends 10 and 1l ofthe by-pass 9.V

The uppervend of the head 19 is provided with the usual upstanding dei-lector projection 22, adapted, after the exhaust port 8 is uncovered on thel down stroke of the piston, to be interposed between the discharge end 10 of the by-pass 9, and the port 8, so that the transferrediexplosive charge is deflected upwardly to the upper end of the cylinder 4.

The piston has a piston rod 28 rigidly fastened to the center of the head 19, and it extends downwardly vertically therefrom through. the closed upper end of the guide 6 in which it is reciprocativelv mounted. The lower end of the rod 23 is rigidly fastened to the center and upper end of a cylindrical cross head 24, which is reciprocatively snuglyfitted uli in the cylindrical bore ot the guide 6. The cross head 2a has pivoted to it the upper end of the connecting rod 3, and it is provided with one or more longitudinal air passages 25, which on the downward stroke or' the cross head prevents a vacuum being ormed in the guide 6 above the cross head 24C, while at the same time not interfering with the snug litting of the cross head 2d in the bore oi' the guide G. The movement of the cross head 24, also, is not resisted by compression of air in the guide aoove the cross head, so that the reciprocation ot the cross head in the guide does not interfere with the free'movementot the piston in the cylinder.

The closed end of the guide 6 is provided with piston rod packing means comprising a disk like packing collar 26 snugly but slidably litted on the piston rod 23, and provided with internal annular grooves 27 for the reception or oil. The packing collar 26 is disposed in a cylindrical recess 28 in the upper side ot the closed end ot the guide G, which recess has larger diameter and slightly greater depth, preferably, than the diameter and vertical thickness of the packing collar 26. A cover plate 29 is fastened, as by bolts 30 to the upper end ot the guide 6, so as to close the recess 28. The cover plate 29 and the bottom of the recess 28 atlord unyielding seats for the packing collar 23 to bear against.

The rod 23 extends through and is reciprocative in the cover plate 29.

The rod 23 on its upward movement carries with it oil from the crank case 1 into the recess 28 and into the annular grooves 27 of the packing collar 26. The lat-ter is carried by the rod 23 against the under side of the cover plate 29, thus preventing air passing upwardly or compressed gas downwardly past the cover plate. On the downward movement of the piston rod 23, the latter carries the packing collar 26 against the bottom of the recess 28, and thus prevents leakage in either direction along the piston rod. This construction allords an oil packing for the rod 23 that permits no leakage of compressed gas into the crank case, nor of air from the crank case into the cylinder 1l. The reciprocations of the piston rod are at such speed that the oil contained in the recess 28 is not given time to be forced therefrom, so that it makes a perfectly tight seal around the piston rod. B v having the charge inlet 12 communicating with the by-pass 9, and by having the latter always in communication with the interior of the skirt. the charge is drawn into the cylinder during substantially the entire intake stroke of the piston head, thus affording maximum power and speed, and by having such large volume of fuel mixture drawn into the cylinder and compressed in the small space, due to the extension of the guide 6 into the skirt 20. a very high compression of the mixture is effected under the piston head, so

that the charge travels with great velocity and torce through the by-pass into the combustion chamber, thereby exerting a maximum scavenging etlect.

Such maximum scavengin the combustion chamber by diminishinn e dilution of the charge with exhaust products, ellects a maximum of power and speed, and reduces the fouling ot the combustion chamber with the products of con'ibustion. the packing collar 2S 3s c less diameter thaiL the recess 2 .aid the piston rod plate 29 a not be tightl, i ing collar 2G is adapted if r the recess 28. This perm;v of alinement o1. head, makes the machining ot' the parts easier and cheapens the cost of man utacture. as well as compensatiiigl tor wear el the c head and its guide, while retaining a tight sealing between the cylinder and the cranlln the operation of the engine, with the parts as shown in 2, and a charge which is compressed and above the head 19 having been ignited by the spark from the plug 7, the piston head 19 and rod and cross head move downwardly on the power stroke. Air

lateral play in 's of less accuracy the cross head and piston will pass upwardly through the passage 25 in .L

the cross h ad 2a, thus avoiding the formation ot a partial vacuum above the cross head in the `guide G. Villien the head 19 uncovers the port 8, the exhaust charge will pass outwardly tlnough this port. @n the downward movement ot the piston, the head 19 will. after the head has uncovered the end 10, and the lateral port 2l o? the skirt 2() with the other end 11 ot the by-pass 9, cause the explosive charge, which has entered the cylinder l under the head on the upward movement ot the piston, to be transferred from under the head 19, tl'nfough the port 21 and by-pass 9 into the cylinder above the head 19.

Upon the upward movement of the piston, when the head 19 has passed the exhaust port 8, the explosive charge will be compressed, which is above the head 19, and a new explosive charge will enter the cylinder below the head 19 through the passage 16 in the housing 15, past the valve 13 and lower end 11 ot the by-pass. Upon the next downward movement ot' the piston, the newly introduced charge will be transferred from below the piston head 19 through the by-pass 9 to the upper side of the head, in the manner already described.

By having the charge inlet 12 communicate with the by-pass 9 disposed in alinement with and adjacent to the end 11 ot the b v-pass, the charge after passing the valve 13 travels but a short distance and in a straight course. This enables the provision ot a small compression space, so as to secure a maximum lou lil

of compression and dispenses with a separate intake opening in the side wallof the cylinder 4. By having the charge inlet 12 communicating with the by-pass 9, and by having the latter always in communication with the interior of the skirt, the charge is drawn into the cylinder during substantially the entire intake stroke of the piston head, thus affording maximum power and speed, and by having such large volume of fuel mixture drawn into the cylinder and compressed in .the small space, due to the extension of the guide 6 into the skirt 20, a very high compression of the mixture is eected under the piston head, so that the charge travels with great velocity and force through the by-pass into the combustion chamber, thereby exerting a maximum scavenging elfect.

Such maximum scavenging of the combustion chamber by diminishing the dilution of the charge withexhaust products, effects a f shortening the height of the engine, making it compact and less liable to lateral vibration than a taller engine.

I do not limit my invention to the structure shown and described, as many modifications, within the scope of the appended claims, may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is zl. In an explosive engine, a cylinder having an explosion chamber provided with an exhaust port, a piston head reciprocative in said cylinder and arranged to close said port and having a skirt, a by-pass having a charge inlet and in constant communication with the interior of said skirt and adapted to communicate with said combustion chamber and disposed so as to be disconnected from said combustion chamber by said piston head, a cross head guide extending into and closing one end of said cylinder and, at the end of the power stroke of said piston head entering and being closely spaced from said skirt, a cross head reciprocative on said guide, a piston rod reciprocative through said guide and connecting said piston head and said cross head, and sealing means between said piston rod and said guide.

2. In an explosive engine, a cylinder having a closed end provided in its inner side with a recess, a cover plate fastened to said end and closing said recess, said plate and the bottom of said recess forming unyielding seats, a piston head reciprocative in said cylinder, a piston rod fastened to said piston head and extending through and reciprocative inholes provided respectively in said cyl- Inder end and in said plate, and a packing co1- lar tightly and slidably fitted on said piston rod in said recess and reciprocative by said .piston rod to positions in which it will alternately bear against the said seats respectively, said packing collar having less thickness and less diameter than the depth and diameter respectively of said recess, said packing collar having one or more internal annular peripheral oil receiving grooves.

3. In an explosive engine, a cylinder having a closed end comprising a cross head guide extending into said cylinder and having in its upper end Va recess, a plate fastened to said guide and closing said recess, said plate and thev bottom of said recess forming unyielding seats, a piston head reciprocative in said cylinder and having a skirt encircling and closely spaced from said guide when said piston head is at the end of its power stroke, a

cross head reciprocative on said guide, a piston rod reciprocative through holes provided Vrespectively 1n said guide and said plate,

and a packing collar tightly and slidably fitted on said rod in said recess and reciprocative with said piston rod to positions in which it will alternately bear against said seats, said packing collar having less thickness and less diameter than the depth and diameter respectively of'said recess, said packing collar having one or more internal annular peripheral oil receiving grooves.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

Y WENDELL R. MCKINNEY. 

